Separation toy



A ril 19, 1949. l. RIBBE 2,467,781

SEPARATION TOY Filed Feb. 21. 1946 IN VEN TOR. [QV/NG 9/555 PatentedApr. 19, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,467,781 SEPARATION TOYIrving Ribbe, Cleveland, Ohio Application February 21, 1946, Serial No.649,325

2 Claims.

This invention relates to toys, especially to separation toys for use bysmall children.

I-Ieretofore many sizes and types of toys have been made, but the vastfield of entertainment, especially for small children, is one that isnever filled and is continually looking for something new. Children tirequickly of a toy, or else a toy may be broken, or else the toy is tooadvanced for the child and, again, this is particularly applicable tovery young children.

The general object of this invention is to provide a novel, attractive,interesting toy for young children.

Another object of the invention is to provide a safe toy for children.

A further object of the invention is to provide a sturdy, butinexpensive, toy which has educational value for small children.

The foregoing objects of the invention, and other objects which willbecome apparent as the description proceeds, are achieved by theprovision of a transparent body, a plurality of partitions securedwithin the body to divide it into sections, each of the partitionshaving a plurality of openings therein with the largest opening in eachof the partitions being progressively smaller from one end partition tothe other end partition, and a plurality of groups of members receivedin the body. Each of the groups of members is of different size and isadapted to pass through the openings in none, some, or all of thepartitions so that the partitions may be used to stratify the groups ormembers, or the members may be combined in one end section.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference should be had tothe accompanying drawing, wherein: Fig. 1 is an elevation of a toyillustrating one embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 is an elevation ofthe toy of Fig. 1 when inverted and with the members therein Stratified;Figs. 3 and 4 are transverse cross sections taken on lines 3-3 and 4-4of Fig, 1; and Fig. 5 is vertical section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 2with the members within the toy omitted.

Referring specifically to the drawing, a large hollow ball I0 is shown,which ball is transparent and preferably made from two hemisphericalsections that are fused, cemented or otherwise secured together. Twotransparent partitions l2 and M are suitably secured in the ball ID withthe partitions having holes l6 and I8, respectively, formed therein. Thepartitions l2 and M are substantially parallel and divide the interiorof the ball into three sections.

A plurality of groups of balls or objects are positioned within the ballll] prior to sealing the partitions therein. These include a group ofsmall sized balls 20, a group of medium size balls 22, and a group ofrelatively large balls 24. I prefer to color the balls of each groupdistinctively and to make the individual balls of each group of substantially the same size. There are as many groups of balls within theball l0 as there are sections therein for a purpose to be made clearhereinafter.

A feature of the invention is that the holes [6 in the partition l2 arelarger than the holes 3 in the partition I4. Thus the group of the smallballs 20 in the ball will pass through holes l6 and I8 while the mediumsize balls 22 are so formed that they will pass through the holes [6 butnot the holes l8, and the large balls 24 will not pass through any ofthe holes It or l8. By positioning the ball ID as indicated in Figure 1and shaking it, a child is able to cause all of the balls 20 and 22 topass through the obstructing partitions to the lowest section of theball. Then, somewhat magically to the child, he can separate the groupsof balls by positioning the ball I0, as in Figure 2, and shaking it. Asthe child plays with the toy, he will learn about the relative sizes ofthe balls and holes and their action in permitting the theretoforestrange action of separating the balls,

It will be seen that any suitable material such as Lucite or otherplastic may be used to form the sections of the ball l0 and, usually,the partitions I2 and M.

It also should be noted that the holes in each partition need not all beof the same size as long as the largest hole in it is of proper sizewith relation to that partition and the groups of balls. Likewise,sometimes only one partition, or more than two may be used, as desired.Nor is the toy limited to a spherical body member or the use of ballssince the enclosure might be in the form of a rectangular box, and theseparable members might be cylindrical in form.

Another example of the invention might embody wire screens ofprogressive mesh size and small particles to be separated thereby. Edgeslots or recesses may [be provided in the partitions for passage of theseparable members, when desired. The invention also might embody acentral general storage chamber with specially shaped openings in thepartitions defining such chamber and correspondingly specially shapedmembers in the central :chamber for movement therefrom when the toy isproperly positioned.

The transparent toy of the invention with sev- 3 eral groups of coloredobjects therein, which objects can be rapidly stratified, or grouped, bythe child in playing with the toy will be of continual interest to thechild and provide it with many hours of amusement.

It will be observed that a sturdy, attractive, interesting toy isprovided and that the objects of the invention are realized.

While in accordance with the patent statutes, one embodiment of theinvention has been specifi-. cally illustrated and described, it shouldbe clearly understood that the scope of the invention is not limitedthereto, or thereby, but is defined in the, appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A separation toy, comprising in combination, a large hollowtransparent closed ball, a first. partition mounted in the large balland having a plurality of large openings therethrough, a secondpartition mounted in the large ball parallel tothe first partition andhaving a plurality of small openings, therethrough, the, said secondpartition being spaced from t hefirst partition and forming therewith.three compartments in the large ball, a first set of small balls withinthe, large ballfand of alsiz'e capable of passing through theopen'ings'of thegfirstand second partitions, asecond'set of small ballswithin the large ball and of a size capablenof passing through the,openings 'of the first partition but not of the sece ond partition, anda third set, of small balls within thelarge ball'and of a sizeinca-pable of passing through the 'openingsgot either the first orsecond partitions, the three sets of small balls having difierent colorsand capable of being mixed to-, gether when thesecond partition ispositioned over the first partitionandcapable of being separated intothe three compartments when the first partition is positioned over thesecond, partition.

2. Aseparatignt'oy, comprisingin combination,

ahe w, ltfanep i ntfelee el qnta ne a first e ttition mounted in thecontainer and having a plurality of large openings therethrough, asecond partition mounted in the container parallel to the firstpartition and having a plurality of small openings therethrough, thesaid second partition being spaced from the first partition and formingtherewith three compartments in the container, a first set of objectswithin the con tainer and of a size capable of passing through theopenings of the first and second partitions, a second set of objectswithin the container and of a size capable of passing through theopenings of the first partition but not of the second partition, and athird set of objects within the container and of a size incapable ofpassing through the openings of either the first or second partitions,the three sets of objects having distinctive apparent characteristicsand capable of being mi;;ed together when the container is held in anupright position and capable of being separated when the container isheld in, an inverted position.

IRVING, RIBBE.

REFERENCES CITED 'Ifhe following reterences are of record in the iiletthis patent;

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name, Date 780,270; Farrell Jan. 17, 19051,143,914 McGaifick Aug. 3, 1915 1,174,657 Bell Mar. 7, 1916 1,337,758,DeCosta, Apr. 20, 1920 1,449,755 Hyde V May 27, 1923. 1,509,371 Nal1eSept. 23, 1924 1,817,613 Brown,-.--, Sept. 13, 1932 1,921,692Morgan-1g", Aug. 8, 1933 OTHER REFERENCES Washington Herald; April 4',19,41.

